Latest News
25
Aug
Large-scale seagrass restoration takes root in Tropical Australia
Tropical Australia’s first large-scale seagrass restoration project begins this week in Cairns and Mourilyan, aiming to replenish more than 400 hectares of seagrass habitat devasted by cyclones and La Nina weather events more than a decade ago.Led by James Cook University’s TropWAT...
READ NOW6
Jul
A gateway to understanding manta rays in the central Great Barrier Reef
James Cook University scientists are studying a previously unknown manta ray aggregation at Holbourne Island – capturing photographs of the mantas' distinct markings and deploying satellite and acoustic tracking tags.It’s the first satellite ...
5
Jul
Surveying mangrove forests along the southern Great Barrier Reef coastline
Mangroves are nature's blue carbon powerhouses – capable of capturing and storing significant amounts of carbon – making them a vital tool in mitigating the climate crisis.They’re also biodiversity hotspots that provide essential breeding g...
5
Jul
Sediment hotspots: Improving confidence in our catchment models
New research suggests the effectiveness of water quality catchment models – used to identify sediment hotspots in Great Barrier Reef catchments – can be enhanced by incorporating river sediment tracing and independent water samples.Led by Jam...
21
Jun
Restoring lost seagrass meadows in the Great Barrier Reef
The first meadow-scale seagrass restoration project in Tropical Australia is set to breathe new life into two vital seagrass areas of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.Led by James Cook University's TropWATER Centre, the project will res...
6
Jun
Girringun lead drone-based dugong surveys with JCU scientists
Hinchinbrook Island historically boasts extensive seagrass meadows and a thriving dugong population, but the region is still recovering from the devasting impacts from Cyclone Yasi more than a decade ago.In a new program, Girringun Traditional Ow...
17
Apr
Scientists track one of the world’s most invasive ants in waterways
As yellow crazy ants invade habitat across Queensland, James Cook University researchers have developed a world-first environmental DNA (eDNA) method that can detect infestations of the highly invasive species.The breakthrough research ...
17
Apr
TropWATER-led program wins National Award
A TropWATER-led water quality monitoring project has won the Agriculture and Regional Development award at the 34th Banksia National Sustainability Awards.Under the project, scientists work with growers in the Russell-Mulgrave catchment to monito...
3
Apr
New PhD opportunity – Dugongs & drone-based photogrammetry
PhD project opportunity James Cook University, Australia Assessing the body size and body condition of dugongs using drone-based photogrammetryAssessments of individual animal health and condition can signal early signs of population level ...
31
Mar
Inshore reef habitats of Great Barrier Reef islands
From coral trout and snapper to wrasses, butterfly fish and damselfish – the inshore reef habitats of Great Barrier Reef islands are known for their complex and rich fish communities.This month our scientists are conducting visual surveys of r...
